A good smoothie can be a great meal replacement if it has the right ingredients. Most restaurants or fast food places have way too much sugar in their smoothies and not enough protein. Be cautious when ordering, just because it says health smoothie does not mean it’s good for you.
Here is an easy recipe for a delicious smoothie with a balanced mix of Protein,
Fat and Carbohydrate.
Ingredients
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (My favorite is Pro Complete 40)
1/2 Cup Plain Non-Fat yogurt (I use Dannon)
1/2 Cup Skim Milk
1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries
1/2 Cup Frozen Raspberries
1/2 TBL. Almond Butter
Mix in a blender and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 319
Fat: 6.5g
Carbohydrate: 33.5g
Protein: 30g
Let’s compare my recipe with smoothies from two popular food chains.
McDonalds Small Wild Berry Smoothie
Calories: 210
Fat: .5g
Carbohydrate: 48g
Protein: 2g
- You will notice there are less calories in the McDonalds Smoothie than in my recipe. Those calories are mostly coming from sugar, however.
- It is very likely that you would be hungry again in an hour after consuming this beverage.
Starbucks Grande Strawberry Vivanno Smoothie (made with 2% milk)
Calories: 280
Fat: 2g
Carbohydrate: 54g
Protein: 15g
- Once again, the calories are lower than my recipe, but that doesn’t mean it’s a better meal choice.
- The protein content in this beverage is better than the McDonald’s smoothie, however the Carbohydrate content is way too high.
Take ten minutes out of your day to make your own smoothie, it will be more beneficial for your diet and your wallet!
Photo Credit: http://www.natures-health-foods.com
